The journey of changing the life of highland workers

In the midst of the Truong Son Mountains, the Co Tu and Gie Trieng villages of the communes northwest of Da Nang have long been associated with the image of slash-and-burn farming and hard work for a living. But today, from those remote villages, hundreds of young ethnic minority people have boldly stepped out into the world, working in modern factories in Japan, Korea, Laos, etc. They send back to their homeland not only the money they have saved, but also the hope for a prosperous life and sustainable change.

Co Tu youth in Ta Lang village (Avuong commune) learn about working in Laos. Photo: TAN SY

"Open the way" policies

Da Nang City currently has more than 1.8 million workers aged 15 and over, of which 1.6 million are working in the economy . The northwestern region of Da Nang is home to the Co Tu and Gie Trieng people, whose lives are still difficult because the rate of trained workers is much lower than the city average.

Faced with that reality, the city government has issued a series of documents to promote employment for ethnic minorities.

Typical examples include: Program No. 30-CTr/TU dated April 21, 2023 of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee on implementing Directive No. 20-CT/TW dated December 12, 2022 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in sending Vietnamese workers to work abroad in the new situation; Resolutions of the Quang Nam Provincial People's Council regulating the lending of local budget capital entrusted through the Social Policy Bank for workers in Quang Nam province to work seasonally in Korea for the period 2023 - 2025...

To bring the policy into life, localities have focused on propaganda work, bringing information to every household and every young person in the village.

One afternoon in Ta Lang village (Avuong commune), the Gươl yard was filled with laughter. More than 50 young Co Tu people listened to the commune cadres introduce the jobs, salaries, and benefits when working abroad. For many, this was the first time they heard details about a new path, completely different from the hard work of farming all year round. Ms. Briu Thi Chieu shared: “I want to try my hand in another place, with a stable income to help my family escape poverty. Hearing the cadres, I felt reassured and determined to register.”

Workers in Thanh My commune look for information to work abroad in 2025. Photo: TAN SY.

Over the past 5 years, dozens of job fairs have been organized in Tay Giang, Dong Giang, Thanh My communes... with the participation of many large enterprises such as Truong Hai, Unico Global, Pegatron, Thien An, IPM. Through these, thousands of ethnic minority workers have been consulted, introduced and recruited for domestic jobs, as well as sent to work abroad.

The Social Policy Bank of mountainous localities has also actively accompanied the people. From 2021 to July 2025, the total loan turnover to support workers going to work abroad in ethnic minority areas reached more than 18 billion VND, with 327 workers supported. These preferential credit funds have helped many families overcome financial barriers, so that their children can boldly enter the international labor market. Many credit officers have closely followed each household, guided loan procedures, and explained in detail how to pay interest.

Good results

In Song Vang commune, the spacious house of Mrs. Tran Thi Hoa's family stands out in the small neighborhood. Five years ago, her family was still struggling in a dilapidated temporary house. Now, thanks to her daughter working in Japan and sending home 26-30 million VND each month, the family has a new, solid home. "Now we no longer have to worry about leaking rain or scorching sun. Having a decent house is all thanks to my daughter working far away," Mrs. Hoa said.

Panko Tam Thang Company provides sewing advice and salary levels to workers in Thanh My commune. Photo: TAN SY.

In Thanh My commune, Mr. A Rat Nghi is proud that his son, A Rat Cuong, works in Laos and has a much more stable income than his hired work in his hometown. From the 15 million VND his son sends home each month, he covers his daily expenses and saves up to arrange a marriage for his son. Recently, Mr. Nghi has also done a side project and saved money to send his youngest son to study electricity in Hoi An.

“I rely on the money my son Cuong sent back home. He worked there for 3 years, from a worker to now the leader of the banana growing team at the farm. Many young people in the village also followed Cuong to work there. I am very happy,” Mr. Nghi said.

Not only creating conditions for young people to work far away, the functional sector of Da Nang city also opens up job opportunities right at home. Dozens of enterprises in the industrial zones of Hoa Khanh, Lien Chieu, Tam Thang have recruited more than 1,500 ethnic minority workers.

Mr. Nguyen Qui Quy, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs emphasized: “In the coming time, the city will set out key solutions: promoting skills and foreign language training for workers; expanding cooperation with high-income countries; increasing preferential loans. We will continue to promote vocational training, expand cooperation with high-income markets such as Japan, Korea, and Germany. At the same time, increase preferential loans and attract investment to the northwest region to create more local jobs.”

After 5 years, the vocational training program, job creation and sending workers abroad in the northwestern communes of Da Nang has brought impressive results: Creating new jobs for 2,500 workers; supporting credit for 1,200 workers, exceeding 120% of the target; sending 800 workers abroad, reaching 130% of the plan.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/hanh-trinh-doi-doi-cua-lao-dong-vung-cao-3301294.html